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Ford Fiesta fire or smoke problems

30 of the 3,179 owner complaints about the Ford Fiesta describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2014 model year.

owner complaints
30
worst model year
2014
typical mileage
53,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

What owners say

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Brakes · NC

My granddaughter and I were driving the car around 50mph. When suddenly we smelled burning. The car wouldnt go when I pressed the gas pedal. We smelled the loudest weird smell. So I immediately pulled into the closest car clinic. The breaks were blue and almost on fire. No warning or anything. Turns out, It was the abs control module. It totally failed and caused the breaks to lock up completely. Which almost caught fire. The break pads were blue. We were terrified. After getting Calipers, break pads, and rotars repaired costing $712. I still have to pay another $1000 when I get paid in a week. To get the abs control Module repaired. Because the car isn’t drivable without that repair. I just wish Ford would pay for the repair. Being that they made most of the 2019 Ford Fiesta SE with the wrong fluids. Which causes the breaks to lock up and the abs control module to fail/die. But they denied it. Which is so unfair. Because We could’ve died. And it’s an expensive repair. At no fault of my own. I will upload the other invoices for the back breaks, rotars, pads, calipers and abs control model as soon as I get it paid and repaired. . Thank you

Filed Apr 28, 2026 · WV · crash · fire · 3 injuries

My daughter and 2 friends were driving on the highway, the dash flickers and goes back to normal, flickered again and the car started slowing down so she pulled over, ( car still moving) and puts the car in park but the car still continues to move. Passenger notices out the side mirror the car is on fire, she jumped out; the car then accelerates ( still in park) and hits the “jersey wall “ where the rest of the car eventually went into flames. My daughter & friend ( who was in the back) got out thru the driver side door, the back doors would not open and the Airbags did not deploy.

Filed Dec 19, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 144,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine malfunction, ABS, and Hill Assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed; however, the contact was unaware of the diagnostic result. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same mechanic who again diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the throttle body, engine electrical harness, and engine mounts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred, and the vehicle stalled with white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The contact had not taken the vehicle back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Filed Sep 8, 2024 · Electrical · PA · fire

I’m 99% sure the heated seat shorted out and caught my car on fire causing the car to burn completely to the ground in a total lose.

Filed Aug 22, 2024 · Engine · CA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle began to vibrate violently, after which the contact observed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact also stated that there was a coolant odor throughout the interior of the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The overheating and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Oct 17, 2023 · Steering, Transmission · 68,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear. The contact noticed smoke coming from an unknown location of the vehicle and the vehicle started to shake. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to operate. The transmission warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that she received a notification of Customer Satisfaction Program: 14M02. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM and clutch had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided two case numbers and advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

Filed Jan 10, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · 28,100 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission module and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. While driving, the vehicle continued to jerk and there was smoke coming through the vents. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal booming sound detected. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal continually for the vehicle to respond as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 28,100. The consumer stated parts alone were $872 of which he doesn't have due to his disability.

Filed Jul 1, 2022 · 47,700 miles · LA · fire · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2014 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle caught fire from underneath the hood. The contact was able to safely exit the vehicle but suffered a left knee injury while exiting the vehicle. No medical attention was received. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The contact was unaware if there was a police or fire department report. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and had not yet been deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer transferred the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 47,700.

Filed Oct 28, 2021 · Engine · 112,729 miles · MO · fire

The contact owned a 2014 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speed the contact noticed that the vehicle would become very hot and coming from the engine and interior of the vehicle and temperature gages was going up and down. The contact placed water in the coolant tank to cool down the vehicle. The contact was going to place a coolant sensor on the vehicle but never had the chance to do it. A few days later the contact was driving at undisclosed speed, the contact pulled into a parking lot and noticed flames coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle under the front wheel which continue to in gulf the vehicle. The contact exit out of the vehicle and called the fire department who extinguish the flames from the vehicle. No one was injured. The police came to the scene but there was no police report was taken. The vehicle was towed to a salvage tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,729.

Filed Jul 6, 2021 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · KY · fire

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that occasionally there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact also stated that the vehicle would not restart. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the battery needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure still occurred. The contact then towed the vehicle to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with nothing needing to be replaced. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Ford Fiesta fire or smoke

Which Ford Fiesta years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2014 (8 complaints), 2012 (7 complaints) and 2011 (5 complaints).

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